Using Autodesk Vault for Source Control

[trilogy2826]

After a dismal and failed attempt last year (our rookie year) to use flash drives to synchronize and store our Inventor files, we are in desperate need of a better system. We actually started by using PTC Windchill and had some success, but it was far too slow to be effective, leading us back to the flash drives. To add another kink, our new home in the school district this year dis-allows us use of internet connectivity on our non-school owned hardware, so Windchill is definitely out.

I have installed Inventor 2010 on our new segregated "network" of ten workstations and belatedly noticed that there is no way (that I know of) to use Vault without the Autodesk Data Management Server (ADMS) installed. After hours of fruitless searching on forums and the internet at large, I could not find access to ADMS. Does anyone know if this is even available?

Vault does not need to be my solution. If any teams have a really good source management suggestions, I would really appreciate it. I have talked to some extremely veteran teams and even they said they have struggled with this for years.

[Chexposito]

Last year for our CAD, we used a server to store files, and flash drives to move from our work robotics workshop to school or home, also to have several backups. To keep the files from having issues with more than one person working, we split the robot into it's components to keep from general problems that could occur with more than one person working on the entire robot. This made it simple for the CAD team to work all at once without interfering with each other. For example, our robot had three main systems/sections (we had one for each and a leader over us). They are:
1. The Chassis/Drive-Train
2. The Elevator/Electronic Board
3. The Turret
Each of us worked on our three separate main assemblies. Then we combined the three to make the finished robot.
You also need to make sure to use the project files, when creating your submission or copying to a flash drive. When you use the pack and go function on the project file, which collects all the files associated with the project, copies them, and then moves them to the specified destination. This helps making sure none of your files have missing paths, parts, etc. Also it should keep the Content Center files from disappearing when moving computers.

[kramarczyk]

Originally Posted by trilogy2826

I have installed Inventor 2010 on our new segregated "network" of ten workstations and belatedly noticed that there is no way (that I know of) to use Vault without the Autodesk Data Management Server (ADMS) installed. After hours of fruitless searching on forums and the internet at large, I could not find access to ADMS. Does anyone know if this is even available?

While I have not installed Inventor for this year, in my opinion, vault in the past has been a good solution. I've got an exceedingly boring video of what an assembly update might look like in a collaborative environment at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anPOum1mV_U The parts in the assembly structure that are flagged with red circles are parts/assemblies that have been updated by others and saved back to the vault. I was able to (relatively) quickly update my work to see the latest files. I would advise against a sneaker net solution because it is generally very difficult to manage who is editing what. It is also very difficult to make sure that everyone has the appropriate revision of context parts. Just managing both of these for a FIRST robot can quickly become a full time job.

Both methods (vault & sneaker net) are dependent on having a commonly understood assembly structure for the design group like Chexposito mentioned. How it is structured is less important than that the structure is commonly understood.

When I have used the vault in the past, the ADMS was installed along with it with the flip of a single toggle. It was very easy to miss, in fact I did several times and lost a fair amount of hair to it. I would suggest looking back through the install options for it. Additionally, you may need to install the Windows IIS component (which may require the windows CD). I'll have to look through my notes at home to figure out some additional detail. I may need to actually download Inventor 2010 to know what I am talking about too.

[trilogy2826]

Thanks for the suggestions. I was really careful to look over the 2010 install to make sue I could include the server, but I might have missed something. Let the hair-pulling commence!

[Gamer930]

Another option that you might want to look at is using Subversion Source Control. You can run it locally on just one computer or on a network. . . It is simple to set up a server with different users now with a software package called "VisualSVN". I don't think the Subversion Merge feature will work too well but the Revision control / Source control will.

Many YouTube tutorials about it.

[Chexposito]

Originally Posted by trilogy2826

I was really careful to look over the 2010 install to make sue I could include the server, but I might have missed something.

We installed windows xp server on one of our computers to be the server, and just saved on the C.A.D. only Hard-drive installed to the computer. This way we could have any computer on the network access those files.

[NickE]

Originally Posted by Gamer930

Another option that you might want to look at is using Subversion Source Control. You can run it locally on just one computer or on a network. . . It is simple to set up a server with different users now with a software package called "VisualSVN". I don't think the Subversion Merge feature will work too well but the Revision control / Source control will.

We use this for all of our CAD source control. Vivid-Hosting, our sponsor, provides a server on their lightning-fast network and everything is checked into the SVN. Merge will not work, but just don't have multiple people working on the same thing at the same time and it shouldn't be a big issue.

[kramarczyk]

I finally got a chance to download Inventor 2010 and install it and found no mention of the vault during the process. I do not see any version of vault on the list of downloadable products, so I am confused. This feels like we're going backwards.

[Trent B]

Subversion.

Other options are Git (Github) or Mercurial (Bitbucket) if you can get your school to allow those on the network comps (we were able to get our IT to put Labview and TortoiseSVN on some laptops)

Another option is Dropbox, it actually keeps past versions for 30 days if you have the free version (which I would assume you would find catastrophic errors within 2/3 of the build season which would require reverting)

With dropbox installed on computers, anything in the Dropbox folder gets auto uploaded with each new version, in windows you can right click and using a menu item view deleted items, or find old versions online.

Dropbox wins in the sense it auto uploads every save you ever make, but it loses to SVN/Git/Mercurial as you cannot make "commit" notes about what was changed.

Originally Posted by Gamer930

Another option that you might want to look at is using Subversion Source Control. You can run it locally on just one computer or on a network. . . It is simple to set up a server with different users now with a software package called "VisualSVN". I don't think the Subversion Merge feature will work too well but the Revision control / Source control will.

Many YouTube tutorials about it.

Man, this place rocks. I was going to come in here and suggest that a properly configured SVN repo will do the job perfectly, as well as be accessible from anywhere.

You'll have to disable the Merge controls, and I believe there are settings to allow you to only let each file be checked out by a single person at a time.

[Ryan Dognaux]

Our team has lightly discussed implementing something for version control for our CAD during build season. Let me ask this - has anyone successfully implemented Autodesk Vault? I haven't seen much documentation on it either, so if someone knows of anything, please post it!

[Mr. Lim]

And for anyone leery of setting up their own SVN server, or finding a host - Google Code allows you to set up an SVN repository for free. The only caveat is that your files will be available for public viewing (but not editing). And in the interests of gracious professionalism, this could be considered a good thing!

[trilogy2826]

I have finally received an official response from Autodesk on access to ADMS (Autodesk Data Management Server). ADMS is not available to FIRST teams as they believe the support logistics would be to great. This is a real disappointment, but the Autodesk officials do believe it is temporary. They said they are going to discuss giving us access in future years. I have a feeling that it was simply not included in the student version, and they didn't realize how beneficial it could be to FIRST teams

I suggest anyone who is interested should email Autodesk support at product.support.communications@autodesk.com and suggest we get access to ADMS. It's better if more than just one kook knocks on their door asking for more free stuff.

Alternatively, I have taken all of your suggestions and implemented Visual SVN and Tortoise SVN. It is generally OK, with the exception that SVN doesn't have a better way to lock files from use other than creating a read-only notification. Otherwise, it will be fun trying to train everyone how to properly use this in a short amount of time. Wish me luck.

[Dave Flowerday]

Originally Posted by Ryan Dognaux

Let me ask this - has anyone successfully implemented Autodesk Vault?

I set up the Vault server for our mechanical team the past 2 years. I know very little about the Autodesk products, but whatever I needed to install it was available as part of the FIRST downloads since that's all I had access to. Was it removed this year?

[kramarczyk]

Originally Posted by Dave Flowerday

I set up the Vault server for our mechanical team the past 2 years. I know very little about the Autodesk products, but whatever I needed to install it was available as part of the FIRST downloads since that's all I had access to. Was it removed this year?

I have installed vault for the past 2 years as well and it is not on this year's package. This years install package is definately not as complete as in past years. Another example is the decreased number of content center libraries that are provided, the ANSI library was not included as in the past.

That being said, what Autodesk is providing is a VERY good value for what we are paying and I appreciate their support.